ISLAMABAD The deputy chief of the Trade Department of Khorasan Province, Mohammad-Hossain Kamranfar says there are bright chances of improvement in trade relations between Khorasan and the Pakistani Northwest Frontier Province.

Kamranfar, presently visiting Peshawar city of Pakistan at the head of a high level delegation, told IRNA, "Both Khorasan and the NWFP offer good opportunities for promotion of bilateral trade and economic cooperation."

He said that exchange of trade delegations between the Iranian and the Pakistani provinces would go a long way in boosting their trade ties.

He added: "Geographic, religious and cultural closeness between Pakistan and Iran can play a good role in promoting bilateral relations."

He said the visit by the Iranian delegation to Peshawar would help in giving a boost to bilateral relations.

He also called for reduction of tariff rates to encourage bilateral trade between the two provinces.

Kamranfar said: "Establishment of a trade information center is one of the steps, which need to be taken for this purpose."

About his talks with the officials of the Pakistani province, he said these parlays centered round the proposal of holding joint exhibitions of the two provinces in Mashhad and Peshawar.

The other members of Kamranfar's delegation, which arrived in Peshawar last Friday includes executive director of International Exhibitions Organization, officials of Khorasan's industries department, a representative of the provincial Chamber of Commerce and several traders of the province.

Besides the government officials, the delegation also held talks with a number of Pakistani traders and businessmen.

(IRNA)